Paint brush holder

ABSTRACT

A paint brush holder designed for mounting on an extension handle to allow painting of high places without the use of a ladder. It employs a unitary spring member securable to the handle of the paint brush and includes a helical portion which engages the threads of standard extension handles. The helical thread portion is positioned such that the brush is supported at the throat of the paint brush handle in approximately the same position as a normally held brush is supported. The spring characteristic of the member provides a flexibility comparable to the human wrist in painting operation. The body of the holder lies along the brush handle and is out of the way so that the brush may be used in a conventional hand-held manner without removal or interference. The helical portion acts as a holder for the brush when removed from an extension handle whereupon the helical portion can engage the lip of a paint can or pail.

United States Patent McBride 51 June 13, 1972 1 PAINT BRUSH HOLDER [72] lnventor: Herbert J. McBride, 2936 Pariso Way, La Crescenta, Calif. 91214 [22] Filed: July 20,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 56,619

[52] US. Cl ..l5/l46, 248/1 10,248/360,

267/179, 306/20 [51] Int. Cl ..A46b 5/02, A46b 17/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..l5/l44 R, 144 A, 145, 146,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,660 4/1881 Hurlburt ..l5/146 UX 467,046 1/1892 Myers 15/ 146 2,818,036 12/1957 Phillips 248/302 X 178,012 5/1876 Koelsch 248/302 X 3,197,795 8/1965 Forte ..15/145 X 1,263,925 4/1918 Polk ..248/112 UX 1,527,846 2/1925 Clark ..248/302X 1,797,381 3/1931 Trimble ..248/303X Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-John E. Wagner ABSTRACT A paint brush holder designed for mounting on an extension handle to allow painting of high places without the use of a ladder. It employs a unitary spring member securable to the handle of the paint brush and includes a helical portion which engages the threads of standard extension handles. The helical thread portion is positioned such that the brush is supported at .the throat of the paint brush handle in approximately the same position as a normally held brush is supported. The spring characteristic of the member provides a flexibility comparable to the human wrist in painting operation. The body of the holder lies along the brush handle and is out of the way so that the brush may be used in a conventional hand-held manner without removal or interference. The helical portion acts as a holder for the brush when removed from an extension handle 'whereupon the helical portion can engage the lip of a paint can or pail.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJun 13 m2 3, 668 731 sum 1 or 2 FIG. 1 FIGZ H63] FIG.4

IN VENTOR.

HERBERT .1. M BRIDE PATENTEDJUR 13 I972 SHEET 2 (IF 2 FIG. 6

FIG.6A

FIG. 8

INVENTOR.

HERBERT J. M BRIDE 9% 5 7 PAINT mwsrr HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For a number of years, the need has been recognized for some means for attaching paint'brushes to extension handles to allow the painting of trim and eaves without the rigidity of climbing a ladder. A number of patents have been issued to inventors of extension holders of various types. Most of these holders constitute relatively heavy devices which secure to the handle either at the end or, in some cases, closer to the throat, but in all of the prior art devices available, the connection is rigid resulting in an assembly which most certainly accurately follows the movement of the extension handle but does not afford any natural brush painting motion, for example, wrist movement. This situation is somewhat similar to the undesirability-of a rigid fishing pole where no action at the point of interest, the tip, would be possible. Moreover, the prior an extension brush handles uniforrnily require that they be removed entirely from the brush before they can be used in an entirely normal way.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing prior art in mind, the applicant has produced an improved holder for paint brushes comprising a unitary member of spring wire which secures to one side of the paint brush handle and includes an angularly ofiset brush ending in a helical threaded section. The axis of the helical section extends to the base of the throat in the brush at approximately the same position that the fingers and thumb hold the paint brush in normal hand-held operation. The natural spring of the holder allows relative movement between the helical portion and the brush similar to the movement afforded by the wrist in'painting. The helical portion being offset also constitutes a clip for supporting the brush within the lip of a paint can or pail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION 01- THE DRAWINGS The above features of this invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which: i

' FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a paint brush with the holder of this invention attached; 3

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the handle at one point. of attachment of the holder of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; I

' FIG. 3 is a side view of the holder of this invention being used to paint the upper corner of a wall;

F IG. 4 is a side view of the same holder and brush assembly used to paint the edge of a ceiling;

FIG. 5 illustrates a paint brush with the holder of this invention attached being used in a normal hand-held manner;

FIG. 6 shows a paint brush held in a can by the holder of this invention;

' FIG. 6A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the can and brush combination of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 shows an alternate clip-on embodiment holder and, FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now refer to FIG. 1 wherein the holder 10 of this invention may be seen as secured to the handle 1 l of a paint brush. The holder 10 includesan elongated straight portion 16 which extends in the embodiment of. FIG. 1 past'the end opening 17 found in nearly all paint brushes. The elongated straight porturns to the inch, consequently, the diameter and pitch of the helical portion are designed to mate with such handles.

The holder 10 of this invention can be fabricated simply from soft iron commonly found in coat hangers, but I have found that a mild steel wire of ten gauge provides suflrcient spring to allow the correct amount of flexibility in usage without danger of permanent set of the holder when in use.

As noted above, the short straight portion 20 terminates at loop 18 on the center line of the paint brush and at the base of the throat 13, consequently, any extension handle attached to the helix applies all forcesto the paint brush at its center line and deep in the throat of the paint brush. The short straight portion 20 likewise being of approximately 1 inch in length offers a degree of flexibility in the connection between the extension handle, unshown in FIG. 1, and the brush 12. The longer straight portion 16 constituting a unitary extension likewise is free to bow slightly inthe plane of the brush to allow additional flexibility. The loop portion of the holder normally is secured by a wood screw or machine bolt 22 through the throat 13 of the brush l2.

The only other point of attachment'ofthe holder is at the end opening 17 and this is effected preferably by a cotter key type connector 23, best seen inFIG. 2, secured with the loop portion 24 encircling the straight portion 16 of the holder. The legs 25 and 26 of the cotter key are slight and encircle the brush. This form of attachment provides a secure mounting of the holder 10 to the brush 12, and the cotter key 23 further can allow some longitudinal or axial'movement of the straight portion 16 of the holder as required when the holder and brush is in operation;

The prime use of the holder is illustrated in FIG. 3 with the paint brush 12 secured to extension handle 30.,The bristles engage a wall 31 adjacent to a ceiling or overhang 32. The angle a formed between the helix and the brush handle is nominally in the order of whereby theuser can hold the extension handle at a comfortable angle and paint an accurate edge by movement of the extension handle. Slight discontinuities in the surface to be painted can be accommodated by the natural springiness of the holder 10 and dabbing action in corners can similarly be accomplished. The holder 10, as is apparent from FIG. 3, does not obstruct the viewof the working bristles.

As viewed in FIG. 4, the same brush with the same attachment is now being used to paint the ceiling 32 while being held at approximately the 'same'angle as in the case of FIG. 3. Substantially the same movement of the painter will allow the edge of the ceiling to be painted. This holder 10 is, of course, normally used in conjunction with-a roller which is used to cover the major flat areas. Rollers are normally unable to paint edges or confined spots. This invention, of course, may be used for large'flat areas but its greatest utility is in painting normal trim and edges where, in the past, a ladder would be required for brush painting by the painter or one of the prior art devices of a cumbersome nature might be used.

Contrary to the prior art devices mentioned above, the holder of this invention is neither large nor weighty, nor does it disturb the normal balance of the paint brush. The attachment fixture, the helix 21, is positioned at the side near the throatand the brush may therefore be grasped in the normal way with the holder attached. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the painter s hand grasps the brush 12 in the normal manner with the helix 21 standing upward out of the way. FIG. 5 further illustrates how the normally held brush is gripped at approximately the same position as the holder of this invention as indicated above. With the holder of this invention detached from the extension handle and used as shown in FIG.

5, it serves an additional function. This function is illustrated in FIG. 6. The open helix secured at an angle to the brush axis has the correct pitch and location to clip over the edge of nearly all pails or paint cans currently in use. In FIG. 6, the helix 21 shown engaging the upper lip of a paint container 36 with the bristles extending into the container in position to drain excess paint. In the case'of a paint pail with a roll lip in 'the order of one-eighth inch in diameter, one helix turn will clip securely to the lip. In the case of a paint can with an outer rolled comer and an inner lip, .the spacing of the helix turns is such that one turn of the helix will engage the outer roll comer and one will engage the inner lip. This feature is shown in fragmentary view in FIG. 6A.

An embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates the basic invention with permanent attachment to a paint brush in order to obtain the most secure mounting and to allow the auxiliary use of the holder as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A. In certain applications, it may be desirable that the holder be quickly removable without the use of a screwdriver or other tools. This may be accomplished employing the embodiment of FIG. 7.

In place of the loop 18 of FIG. 1, the holder 110 has an integral clip 1.18 which is included for an opening designed to receive the throat 13 of a brush 12. The clip portion 118 is dimensioned of course to match the throat l3 of'the brush 12 to be used and joins both the helix 121 and straight portion 1 16 in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. The end of the portion 116 in this case is shown secured to the brush by a slight angle bend at the end of the straight portion 116 extending through the opening 17 of the brush. in such a version, no securing means are required and the holder itself secures to the brush merely by clipping.

An additional embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 8 designed for permanent attachment to a brush. it has similar characteristics in operation to the holder of FIG. 1. In this case, the elongated portion 216 extending between the loop 218 and the outer end opening 17 of the brush is curved outward from the straight line forming one side of the angle a. In this embodiment, the spring wire may be of lighter gauge and, therefore, there is a greater degree of flexibility in the holder 210 than in the embodiment of FIG. 1. This additional flexibility is useful for fine control of the brush when on an extension handle. ln order to further achieve this fine control of the user end of the holder, it is secured through the opening 17 of the handle by a machine screw 223.

In each of these embodiments, it is apparent that a simple lightweight extension holder for paint brushed is illustrated. The same degree of flexibility as in a hand-held brush is achieved by reason of the nature of the holder being a unitary spring and the point of control being located directly at the thraot of the brush. Two points of attachment to the brush are 4 used with a flexible length therebetween affording natural hand-held type motion of the brush. The holder in no way obstructs the use of the brush in the normal hand-held manner and, in fact, when the brush is hand-held, the helix serves an additional function and acts as a brush holder for the edge of a can or pail. 1

The above described embodiments of this invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of this invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following claims including their equivalents.

l claim:

l. A paint brush holder comprising: 7

a unitary spring wire member including a first portion extending generally along the axis of the handle of a paint brush, and a second portion extending at an acute angle a with respect to the axis of the paint brush with the vertex of the angle positioned generally at the throat of the paint brush, means at the vertex of the angle for securing the holder to the paint brush in the throat area of the paint brush and second means for securing the holder to the handle of a paint brush at a point remote from the throat, said holder including meansfor engaging an extension handle at the angle a said unitary spring wire member exhibiting flexibility whereby a paint brush secured to an extension handle is resiliently held similar to a human hand andwrist, wherein said engaging means comprises an integral helix in alignment with said second portion of said holder constituting threads for engaging the end threads of an extension handle. Y

2. A paint brush holder constituting a unitary spring including an elongated portion securable to the sideof a paint brush handle including an integral clip portion for engaging the throat of a paint brush and an integral helix portion extending at an angle a with respect to the axis of the paint brush for engaging the threads of an extension handle,

means for securing the holder to the outer end region of the said paint brush handle; wherein said securing means constituting a cotter key encircling the handle of the paint brush. 7

'ni *vaa-s 

1. A paint brush holder comprising: a unitary spring wire member including a first portion extending generally along the axis of the handle of a paint brush, and a second portion extending at an acute angle Alpha with respect to the axis of the paint brush with the vertex of the angle positioned generally at the throat of the paint brush, means at the vertex of the angle for securing the holder to the paint brush in the throat area of the paint brush and second means for securing the holder to the handle of a paint brush at a point remote from the throat, said holder including means for engaging an extension handle at the angle Alpha said unitary spring wire member exhibiting flexibility whereby a paint brush secured to an extension handle is resiliently held similar to a human hand and wrist, wherein said engaging means comprises an integral helix in alignment with said second portion of said holder constituting threads for engaging the end threads of an extension handle.
 2. A paint brush holder constituting a unitary spring including an elongated portion securable to the side of a paint brush handle including an integral clip portion for engaging the throat of a paint brush and an integral helix portion extending at an angle Alpha with respect to the axis of the paint brush for engaging the threads of an extension handle, means for securing the holder to the outer end region of the said paint brush handle; wherein said securing means constituting a cotter key encircling the handle of the paint brush. 